Mebane couple holds celebration for Day of the Dead

Saturday

Nov 2, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 2, 2013 at 9:46 PM

Natalie Allison Janicello / Times-News

For five years now, Hank and Sara Williams have held their own Day of the Dead celebration.

The couple, who live in Mebane, has no Hispanic heritage. But year after year, they’ve turned their backyard into a site to welcome the souls of family, friends and loved ones who have passed away — a tradition that began with Aztecs in Mexico and has become known as Dia de Muertos.

By the glow of a fire, string lights and dozens of candles, around 50 people gathered in the Williams’ backyard Saturday night to celebrate those who have gone on before them. An altar, known as an ofrenda, or offering, was set up with photos people left of their loved ones, along with sacred figurines, food and mementos to attract the deceased ones’ souls.

“Americans, as a whole, don’t get it,” said Hank Williams, referring to “the whole idea about death.”

At the ofrenda, Williams had photos of his late parents, Dot and Henry, set up. He included a miniature chair figurine, to represent his dad’s job in the furniture industry, as well as a picture of his mother in a bikini — a tribute to her being a “sun worshiper.”

Diane Roth, a friend of Sara’s, has come from Chicago to the Williams’ Day of the Dead party each year. Roth said she has been interested in the holiday for a long time, and lived near the Mexican border at one point.

“I was interested in how we treat and remember the people of the past,” Roth said. “Those are the people who brought me to where I am.”

She said some day, she and Sara hope to celebrate the holiday, usually observed on Nov. 1 and 2 each year, in Mexico.

“I think death is going to be the coolest experience we’ve ever had in our lives,” Roth said, adding it would be “a release of all your worries.”

Roth placed a photo on the ofrenda of her high school French teacher, Marilyn Williams, who died a few months ago.

“She influenced me to no end,” Roth said.

Later in the night, party attendees lined up for a processional toward the altar, where Sara Williams read about the holiday and encouraged people to say the names of loved ones they wanted to remember.

As the group walked toward the ofrenda, one woman sprinkled Marigolds on the ground, a tradition that is said to attract the spirits. In Mexico and other places, people commonly leave a trail of Marigolds from the cemetery to their homes to attract their loved ones’ souls back from the grave for the celebration.

In addition to Marigolds and candles, the Williams used traditional Day of the Dead skulls to decorate the altar, tables and cookies, among other things.